Ozark Regional Transit (ORT) celebrated the start of construction on its long-anticipated new administrative office building.

A ceremony was held to break ground on the 8,800-square-foot building that will replace the current offices. A $2.9 million federal bus and facilities grant will pay for the new building in Springdale.

The building will have 18 individual offices and include a training room, board room, drivers’ lounge and individual work areas for the bus dispatchers.

The building should go up quickly with the bulk of the work completed by the fall. Staff should be occupying the building by October, and the project is set to be fully complete in January.

ORT provides fixed route and paratransit services in Northwest Arkansas’ largest cities.

ORT is the primary means of public transportation in Bentonville, Rogers and Springdale. In Fayetteville, the student-focused Razorback Transit system operated by the University of Arkansas provides most of the city’s bus service, but ORT plays an important role as well.

All rides on Razorback Transit are free, and ORT offers free rides in Fayetteville, Rogers and Springdale.